Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 346: She Also Feels for Him

"Huh?" Serena was a bit stunned.

She looked a bit dazed.

This directly amused Silas Hawthorne.

He lifted her onto the table, leaned beside her, and jokingly said, "My dad’s been gone for many years, I can’t let my mom stay single forever, can I?"

Serena gave Silas an annoyed glance, "That’s not what I meant."

Earlier in the day, Clara Huxley had told her that after Silas’s father passed away, she had boyfriends, and Serena didn’t have any opinion about it.

It was just the reason Silas gave that surprised Serena a little.

She thought it was for some other reason, like being closer to work, or preferring the environment there, and so on.

Thinking about this, Serena didn’t avoid it and just said it directly.

Silas nodded, indicating he understood.

"My mom likes you a lot," Silas continued, pouring a glass of warm water for Serena and handing it to her.

Serena reached out, took it, had a sip, and looked at Silas, waiting for him to continue.

Silas spoke gently, "In the early years, because she didn’t remain a widow for my dad, many people criticized her behind her back."

"Although the three of us kids didn’t think much of it, there were still some people gossiping. Even now, many people call her Mrs. Hawthorne."

"But she doesn’t mind it."

Silas looked earnestly into Serena’s eyes and said softly, "So those online comments about you divorcing Julian Lawson and getting together with me, she really doesn’t care; she even empathizes with you."

The steam from the warm water misted upward. Serena looked at Silas, and finally, she asked the question.

"Silas, do you mind?" It was the first time she asked him so directly and surely, needing his clear answer.

Silas replied with a kiss.

A brief, gentle kiss.

He said clearly, "I don’t mind."

"I love you," he said, looking into her eyes, with nothing impure in his gaze, "I love every moment of you."

He just sometimes gets jealous of Julian Lawson, that’s all.

Over the years, Silas had gone through many things.

Struggles and bloody battles, he had been on the brink of death so many times.

Regarding work matters, he was already at ease. What he wanted more was true love.

He desired someone who would stand by him in tough times and hold onto his hand without letting go.

Thinking of Clara Huxley, Silas added:

"Actually, my parents were very much in love, it’s just... my dad left early, so..."

"Serena, if... I would hope you, like my mom, be with someone you love."

Silas remained as gentle and refined as usual.

But Serena saw a subtle vulnerability in his eyes that was hard to detect.

Serena reached out and gently caressed his face.

At this moment, she also felt compassion for him.

"It must have been tough back at sea, wasn’t it?" she asked softly.

Because he had been through that kind of danger, he would consider what her life would be like if he were to leave before her.

"Yes." He responded, "But, we got through it."

We got through it.

Four words.

Carrying with them so much hardship and struggle.

Serena didn’t say anything, just leaned over and hugged him gently.

He also held her tightly.

Many words were conveyed in this embrace.

...

The night was as cool as water.

A man wearing a baseball cap kept moving through the darkness.

He had disguised his figure, taking a route so cunning that no surveillance could capture his face.

Preston Langley had been loitering outside this chaotic area for a while, but he didn’t dare return, afraid to lead those following him inside.

I wonder how Vera Hansen is.

Preston thought.

He didn’t leave much stuff back at the house.

Yet, as this place was a no man’s land with shantytowns and chaotic management, he left cash at home, so long as she was cautious, she should be fine.

However...

Preston took out his phone, pondered, and still decided to call Vera.

But as before, no one answered.

He didn’t know why Vera didn’t pick up, but given the current tense situation, not answering was normal.

[Things are tight lately. We’ll stay low for a while, then find a way to leave the country.]

He had seen the online wanted alert; they couldn’t remain inland any longer.

Fortunately, he had some special ways to smuggle them out.

Yet, these days, there’d be strict controls; it’d be better after a while.

Preston then avoided surveillance to buy some essential living supplies.

Online.

Vera Hansen remained a hot topic.

Criminal charges, even her previous marketing team had come forward to apologize to Serena.

There was no way to clear her name.

Thus, many people unfollowed and turned against her.

Especially those ardent fans, the more they trusted her, the crazier they were now.

They exposed many unknown details.

One wave of heat followed another.

But these pieces of information made people more sympathetic to Serena.

"Vera Hansen really aimed to destroy Serena!"

"Yeah, thankfully the truth is out now, or else who knows what messes Serena would have continued to endure."

"By the way, did you see the recent gossip? Serena and Silas Hawthorne’s mother went shopping, and I’ve heard their relationship is quite good. Do you think Serena and Silas will get married?"

"Not sure, maybe."

"What about Julian Lawson? What will happen to him? I saw a previous live interview, and he looked almost broken."

"Who cares!"

Preston Langley sipped his milk, scrolling through these comments one by one.

About half an hour passed, and Vera still hadn’t responded to his messages.

This left Preston feeling a bit uneasy.

He looked towards the house.

He still needed to find a way to check back.

...

At this moment, Vera’s phone was in Julian Lawson’s hands.

He looked at the messages from that unregistered number, understanding at heart.

"Make sure to set up an ambush around the house; he might come back looking for Vera soon," Julian told Jude Chaucer beside him.

"Yes!" Jude nodded, their people had been keeping a watchful eye.

Now he was also very nervous. If they couldn’t catch Preston Langley, none of their safety would be guaranteed.

Including his own.

Though Julian Lawson had recently increased his pay and given him many bonuses, he was still very tense.

Thinking about it, Jude quickly got to work.

The house was left with only Julian Lawson inside.

He looked at the bright moon outside.

They had found where Vera Hansen previously stayed, so Preston would definitely go back to find her.

Once they caught Preston Langley, he would tell Serena everything.

The moonlight was bright; on the table beside him lay that tanzanite.

Only now, this tanzanite was being carved.

Next to it were the corresponding tools and design blueprint.

Julian Lawson rolled his wheelchair over and, stroke by stroke, carefully carved that tanzanite.